The Royal Fling - Part 64

 

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Chapter 64


Safe House


“Big Brother” Raunak mocked as Arnav shielded Daadi from him. “What a timing!! I don’t understand if I should be praising your wits or pity your state because whatever happens, I am not leaving this place without the Royal wealth and killing this old lady here”

Arnav was offended by his choice of words.


“You are brainwashed by Ratan Malhotra, Raunak. Very soon you will know his reality and then mind my words, you will regret this”

“Regret?” Raunak laughed. “I have been regretting from my childhood for having a family who never wanted to own me”

“We didn’t disown you. Ratan Malhotra snatched you from us, kept you hidden” Arnav debated.

“Lies lies .. all lies” he screamed taking a gun out of his pocket and aimed at Arnav. 

Arnav became alert. 

“Raunak” Daadi shouted coming forward. “You want the wealth, take it. But spare my grandson’s life” 

Her words instilled more rage in Raunak’s eyes. He realized killing Subhadra Raizada wouldn’t satisfy him but snatching her grandson, especially this eldest one whom she loved beyond anything, would crumple her world. From his childhood when Ratan Malhotra had shown him pictures of the happy Royal family, his hatred for them had double folded. How could they enjoy their lives forgetting they had disowned him? And for all that, he held the matriarch of this family responsible for his solitude and wanted her to feel every tinge of pain he had faced all these years. 

When Arnav saw Raunak lost in some thoughts, he pounced on him to snatch the gun. 

“Arnav…” Daadi shouted in fear. 

The gun fell on the floor but before Arnav could take it, Raunak kicked him and attacked to get the gun from the floor. Arnav timely caught his leg and rolled him over. The two fought like enemies. Arnav Singh Raizada would never let him hurt anyone from his family. He would give his life to protect them. 


****************** 

Malhotra House 

When Anjali and Payal reached the Malhotra house, they were told Ratan was out. Anjali settled Payal and looked for some way to contact Arnav or the other Raizada brothers. She knew her husband had been replaced which meant Shyam was in grave danger. She tried contacting Arnav first on his number but he didn’t answer. Least did she know that he was fighting in the Safe house with Raunak Singh Raizada. Akash’s number was not reachable and according to her, Aman was still at the Police Station. She couldn’t leave Payal alone here to look for her husband. Somebody had to be here with her. When all attempts failed, she barged in her father’s bedroom to look for some other clues to contact her father who had left his mobile phone at home in hurry of leaving somewhere. She recalled her father had a diary of his daily appointments with contact details of the people related to it. She could call them and check for her father’s whereabouts. She just hoped her father was not in some kind of a problem. 

She looked frantically for that diary in his closet when a picture from the side drawer fell down. She leaned to pick the photograph and sagged back on the chair behind. It was picture of her father… with Shyam… no.. it wasn’t Shyam. Those eyes were evil and she realized it had to be his lookalike. But what was her father and that lookalike doing together? Were they linked? How? 

“Anjali…” Payal shouted from the living room. Anjali immediately rushed down. Her father’s two strong bodyguards were trying to drag Payal out. 

“Hira” Anjali screamed in anger. “Where are you taking her? Leave her” 


Anjali reached there and pulled Payal away from these men. 

“Anjali Madam.. let us take her… she is the only way Sir can be set free. We can negotiate for your father’s release. Let us take her” 

“Release? What are you both talking? Where is Dad?” 

“He is arrested” the other one replied. 

Anjali was shocked. 

“These Raizadas tricked him and recorded his confession” 

“Confession? What confession?” 

The guards were unsure if they could speak about it to Anjali or not. All these years they had been loyal to Ratan Malhotra and covered all his tracks and his illegal work which Anjali wasn’t aware of. 

“What confession? Tell me” she shouted. 

“Sorry Ma’am. We cannot tell you that. Right now, only the abduction of a family member of Raizada could help us negotiate for your father’s release” 


When one of them again tried to reach Payal, Anjali slapped him hard. 


“Don’t you dare touch my sister. Leave this place before I get you both arrested too” 


The men didn’t move away. They had been too loyal so far to Ratan Malhotra to deceive him at the end moment. 

“Tie her up” one of them said to the other. “I will take Payal Raizada with me” 

“No” Anjali shouted blocking their way but the men were too quick. One of them grabbed payal again but before they could hurt either of the two, Avni and Aman reached there and punch the two men hard. 

“Avni…” Payal rushed to her whereas Aman rescued Anjali from the other guard. They had got the police along who arrested Ratan Malhotra’s loyal guards and dragged them away. 

“You okay Bhabhi?” Aman worryingly asked Anjali who was in a trauma right now. 

“Aman.. Shyam.. he is..” 

“He is safe” Aman acknowledged. 

“No.. he is been replaced.. The one in Shantivan with Daadi is his lookalike” 

Amna exhaled. 

“We know. Arnav informed us that. Hence we came here to ensure you and Payal Bhabhi are safe. And don’t worry about Shyam bhai. Akash has saved him too. They are on way to the Safe house where Raunak has taken Daadi. Arnav is also there.. We should go. Come on” 

He dragged Anjali along and Avni helped Payal to walk out. On the way they explained Anjali who that lookalike was and how her father Ratan had planned all this from years to revenge the Raizada Royals. The news of her father’s arrest and his illegal activities were already a shock for Anjali but the games he played with the Raizadas all these years didn’t go well with her. Now she could connect why her father always kept giving her hopes that someday she will become a mother, why he suddenly softened for Shyam when he so eagerly wanted her to divorce him. The mere thought of her father waiting to replace Shyam with his twin brother Raunak, irked her. 

**************** 

Hospital 

When Khushi opened her eyes, she saw her mother crying alongside her bed. 

“Mumma” she whispered reaching out for her arm. Garima composed herself and quickly held her hand. 

“Khushi… how are you feeling now? The doctors told me you were conscious for some time when Arnav was here.. and then by the time I came to see you, you fainted” 

“I .. I am fine..” she swallowed with difficulty. “How. How is dad?” 

Garima hands trembled when Khushi asked her about Shashi. She was strictly told by the doctors to lie about his condition as Khushi herself wasn’t in a good state of mind. 

“he is fine.. The doctors said he will .. live” 

Khushi panicked seeing the expressions on her mother’s face. 

“You are lying to me Mumma.. Please don’t.. Tell me what the doctors said” 

“I am not lying” Garima looked away.. “You should rest. Do you need anything?” 

“Mumma” she gripped Garima’s hand. “How is he? Is he… going to… live or not?” 

Garima could no longer control her tears and she burst out crying. 

“I don’t know Khushi.. They don’t have a proper response yet.. He .. he is critical..” 

Tears gushed from Khushi’s eyes. 

“I want to see him..” she tried to get up. 

“No.. you cant. You are very weak.” 

“I want to see him” 


She kept struggling and when her cries became uncontrollable, Garima had to call for the Doctors and nurses. 


“I want to see my father” Khushi pushed away the nurses. 

They gave her another sedative to calm Khushi’s anxiety until she fell asleep again. 


**************** 

Safe House 


Arnav and Raunak both fought like crazy. Arnav banged Raunak’s head to the wall and pressed him there forecefully. 


“Don’t do this Raunak.. You are figting the wrong side” Arnav growled in his ear. “You belong to our family.. no one disowned you.. You were fed with lies.. Give up” 

Raunak sprang his head back and Arnav toppled on the floor. Raunak took the opportunity to grab the Gun and was about to shoot Arnav but the police reached the place and was shot him. The gunshot literally echoed in the room and suddenly everything went silent. Subhadra Raizada collapsed as blood pooled her feet. Raunak dropped the gun whereas Arnav screamed aloud realizing Daadi saved Raunak from the Police and got shot on her arm. Raunak froze on the spot as the police arrested him. Why would she do that? Why did she save his life? He wasn’t going to spare the Raizada family and yet… yet this old woman saved his life.. Why? 


“Call an ambulance” Arnav screamed pulling his Daadi’s head on his lap. “Daadi.. please.. stay with me… The ambulance is coming.. stay with me.. please” he begged as the police dragged Raunak away. 


*************** 

Hospital 

The Raizada family waited before the ICU where Daadi was getting operated. It had been two hours since she was brought here. When Shyam and Akash were on way for the safe house, Arnav informed him about Daadi been shot and they turned the wheels for the hospital instead. Aman, Avni, Anjali and Avni reached here after Daadi was taken for the operation. Anjali met her husband and cried her heart out but that wasn’t enough. She felt responsible for this entire tragedy because her father was involved. 

“Rani saheba… please don’t blame yourself. It is not your fault” 

He had tried to convince her that from past an hour but it didn’t work. No matter how much they ignored this fact, it wouldn’t change. 

Payal met her mother and insisted on seeing Shashi once who was still under observation in another ICU. Avni was holding her tears back because she had to give strength to Aman and others. Khushi had still no idea about Daadi’s condition. After an hour more, the doctors informed Daadi was out of danger. The bullet was removed and she was safe. But no one was allowed to see her yet… not until they shifted her to another private ward. 

Arnav heaved a sigh of relief. He was the only one who hadn’t spoken a word since the surgery had begun. Shyam hugged Akash and then Aman, rejoicing the fact that Daadi was okay. Then he reached Arnav and sat next to him. 

“Arnav…. She is going to be okay” he murmured giving him a side hug. 

Arnav was too stiff. 

“I saw her dying before my eyes Shyam.. She … she was pooled in blood..” Arnav’s voice stuttered. “I couldn’t imagine she leaving us all.. we need her…” 

“We do..” Shyam agreed. “We all do.. And she is going nowhere. We got her back” 

Akash and Aman joined them. 

“I can’t believe she put her life in danger for him…” Akash snapped. 


He was talking about Raunak. It was a shock to everyone that Daadi saved Raunak but somewhere each one of them understood she would do the same for any of her grandson. She loved them equally. 


“Mr. Raizada” a nurse hurried to Arnav. “Your wife is conscious again and she wants to see you..” 


Arnav looked at Shyam who assured him he would handle the situation here and that he could leave to his wife. As soon as Arnav stepped in the room, Khushi struggled on the bed to get up. 

“Don’t” Arnav reached and stopped Khushi from getting up. 

“Arnav.. Dad.. I want to see him.. Please…” 


Arnav nodded. Garima had told him a while ago that she spilled about Shashi’s critical condition to Khushi. 


“You are still not stable yet.. I cannot take the risk of taking you to the ICU to see him” 

“Please.” She pleaded and tears rolled down from her cheeks. “He is my father.. if he is.. he is critical.. I have to see him.. Please Arnav..” 


It undid him. He couldn’t let his wife suffer so much only to see her father. He informed the Doctor and took his permission. With the help of a nurse and Arnav, Khushi sat on the wheelchair which Arnav led to the ICU where Shashi was being treated. The moment Khushi saw her father with all those tubes and syringes connected, her heart sank. She touched her father’s lifeless fingers over the bed and kissed them. The next instant she sobbed bitterly. Arnav kneeled down beside her to calm her down. 


“He will be fine.. You have to trust God” he said. 

“He will be fine” she repeated with a nod. She then looked back at Shashi and spoke to him.. “Dad… I know you are listening me.. I just know” she swallowed her tears. “I want you to know me and Payal love you. We have missed you even though you were beside us. We want you forever with us Dad. I am not prepared to let you go. You don’t want to shower love upon us, don’t.. We will never insist you henceforth but please come back… come back for us.. for Mumma.. for Payal and me.. Please” 


Arnav gripped her shoulder to stop Khushi’s cries. She turned around and hugged him tight. A moment later, Arnav pulled her away and kissed on the top of her forehead 


“He will also see his grandchildren. I believe that” he replied cupping her jaw. 


Khushi knew he wasn’t talking only about Payal’s baby but their future children too. A weak smile crept her lips and hope filled her heart. Arnav placed her back on the wheelchair and wheeled her out. She needed rest and he had to check upon Daadi too. 


To be Continued

NEXT PART

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Standalone Romance Book 2 from Mr & Mrs. Series

Story of Neil Thakur, a Jerk Entrepreneur who gets what he eyes on. When he and his pricey girlfriend Nyra are en route to India, his life collides with 21-year-old Esha Singhal, the daughter of his rival. Whilst his mind tries to keep that baby girl out of his way, his body and heart don't approve. A romantic tale of love, betrayal and possession. Will Esha conquer Neil’s heart? Or is she on some other mission Neil is unaware of?

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EXCERPT

“Aww. Your family truly looks complete” he mumbled putting the phone back on the table, but leaving the screen unlocked for Neil to see. 

Neil’s gaze fell on the picture. It was his father’s social media profile where he usually updated his personal pictures with his wife and now since Esha was part of their family, his father posted a picture with both his wife at one side and Esha at the other. The caption was way too interesting than the picture. 

‘With my love and my son’s arranged love’ 

Neil’s eyes were glued on the picture. His father was in his usual tuxedo, looked at least 5 years younger than he was. His mother was in a bottle green Gown, holding his father’s arm and Esha.. she was in an off-shoulder lavender dress hugging her curves like the dress was made just for her. Esha’s long black hair had curled loosely at the ends and they covered most of her creamy shoulders. The smile on her face came naturally and she looked happy posing with her in-laws. This was new!! Seemed like she was bonding well with his parents. Either she was a charmer or his parents were too kind hearted and guilty to shower so much affection on their daughter-in-law to cover up their fault of getting her married to their not-so-interested-in-marriage son. Nevertheless, the picture was ecstatic. 

“I should comment on it” Jatin snatched the phone from Neil who was still speechless. Words formed in his throat but he couldn’t articulate what he felt seeing that picture. He knew one thing for sure… this woman… Esha.. was not going to leave his side anytime soon. She was here to save her falling company, much to his dismay. But what shocked him was that his heart showed no signs of pushing her out either these days. As if it was slowly getting accustomed to this new entry in his life.

MORE EXCERPTS CLICK HERE